Demonetisation: Bundi experiencing low footfall of tourists

Bundi (Raj), Dec 2 (PTI) Demonetisation of high-value currency notes has affected the tourism industry here with the city experiencing a low footfall of tourists during this peak season.

"Demonetisation has certainly adversely affected the tourism industry, with the city experiencing a low footfall of tourists in the peak season," Assistant Tourist Officer Prem Shankar Saini said.

The city, located amid the Aravalli Hills, sees maximum tourist footfall between November and March.

However, this time, tourism industry stakeholders are bracing for poor business with small hotels, taxi services, restaurants and vendors likely to be worst hit by demonetisation.

"Foreign and domestic tourists after attending Pushkar Mela visit Bundi Utsav. But this time, due of demonetisation, we have hardly had any tourist groups," Arun Sharma, a guest house owner, said.

Asserting that efforts are being made to facilitate foreign as well as domestic tourists with new currency notes from banks, Saini said, "The district collector has asked the branch manager of a public sector bank here to facilitate tourists with banknotes without letting them wait in queue."

If tourists come to our office for new currency notes, we will manage it through the bank branch, he said.

According to a tourism department report, the city has seen a constant fall in the number of foreign and domestic tourists after 2011.

In 2011, the city was visited by 17,148 foreign and 58,001 domestic tourists, while in 2012 it fell to 16,524 foreign and 50,788 domestic tourists.

In 2013, the number of foreign and domestic tourists who visited the city stood at 15,740 and 50,539 respectively. This year, till October, 11,263 foreign and 45,404 domestic tourists visited the city. PTI CORR ANB NSD

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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